Young and Muslim In NYC

Where Is Angela has a post on a particularly good topic for today:

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Jamshid just published a piece on what life is like for Muslims teens in New York. The plain, quotidian approach does a fine job of presenting young Muslims in mainstream American culture as they actually are. The humanity is a nice contrast to the headlines.

Tahara Miah and Saddam Attareb (Photo: Lane Johnson)

As the fifth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Tahara and nine other city Muslim-American teens interviewed over several months said that while they have been impacted by 9/11, the war in Iraq and the global battle against terrorism, these events do not define their lives.

The most important thing in life is “respecting my religion and my family, followed by my friends,” said Saddam Attareb, who lives in Harlem. What anyone else says “doesn’t really matter to me”. […] With a touch of bravado, the muscular 15-year-old said no one really taunts him about the name he shares with the ex-Iraqi dictator. “They just ask me stupid questions, like are you related to Saddam Hussein?”

Be sure to explore the Flash interactive, which is where the payoff lies.

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I've had a few good Muslim friends over the years and, contrary to a lot of news reports we hear, this article does a great job showing how they are people just like you and me. As Angela writes, be sure to check out the associated flash page that has numerous videos and pictures of the teens. There is much there not to miss.